Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Erick Robinson and Patrick Dunn have joined the Intellectual Property Practice Group. Robinson joins as a partner in the firm’s Houston and Austin offices, and will also serve as Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Group. Dunn is an associate based in the Austin office.
Robinson brings significant experience as a trial lawyer, patent litigator, and IP strategist along with a technical background in computer science, electronics, and biotechnology, giving him unique insight into key industries for his clients. As a U.S. patent attorney, he litigates and tries bet-the-business patent cases on both the plaintiff and defendant side for clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to sole inventors. A U.S. patent attorney, he also has broad experience in patent monetization and licensing. In addition to his work as lead counsel, he also serves frequently as local counsel in one of the nation’s leading patent venues, the Western District of Texas, Waco Division. Robinson has also managed patent cases around the world, including multi-jurisdictional cases in China and Germany. His 2019 case in China was named one of the top 10 patent market developments worldwide by IAM.
In addition to litigating and trying patent cases, Robinson spends significant time monetizing and licensing patents, litigating and trying trade secret disputes, and litigating inter partes reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). In addition, Robinson is a certified Texas mediator.
Robinson began his legal career at a top Wall Street law firm, negotiating and drafting technology agreements before moving back to Texas. He has more than 20 years of patent litigation experience at large law firms and companies and previously served as Director of Patents for a multinational wireless technology corporation and as Senior Patent Counsel at a major open-source software company.
After completing his undergraduate studies at Pomona College, Robinson later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas, School of Law. He is also working on his MBA and a Master’s in Business Analytics from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
“Spencer Fane continues to strategically build our bench to handle complex intellectual property matters for our growing client base,” said Kyle Elliott, the Intellectually Property Practice Group Leader at Spencer Fane. “Erick and Patrick bring exceptional talent to our firm, and we look forward to their presence bolstering our ability to support clients in the markets where they do business. This was a wonderful opportunity to add accomplished attorneys who share our core values of collaboration and high levels of responsive and efficient client service. I am excited to welcome Erick as Co-Chair of the IP Group and have Patrick join us as a valued member.”
Dunn focuses his practice on helping clients protect their assets through patent litigation and patent licensing. His patent litigation activities include research of law and technology, patent validity, and opinions regarding infringement. Dunn leans on deep experience in patent licensing regarding the software, electronics, and semiconductor sectors with a large US patent aggregator. With his undergraduate in Electronic Technology, Dunn’s patent prosecution background includes electro-mechanical assemblies, displays, touch screens, user interfaces, encryption and decryption protocols for secure bank transactions, and battery-related power technology. He is a named inventor on nine U.S. patents.
Dunn completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Akron, later earning his Master’s in Physics from Kent State University and eventually his Juris Doctor from the University of Akron, School of Law. Before his career as an attorney, Dunn led an extensive career in engineering, with a focus on liquid crystal display technology and associated consumer electronics and semiconductors.
